St. Paul man among climbers feared dead

ST. PAUL – A St. Paul man is one of the six climbers missing and feared dead on Mount Rainier, the man’s uncle said Saturday.

Rob Mahaney of Elko confirmed Saturday night that his 26-year-old nephew, Mark Mahaney of St. Paul, began his climb Monday with three other clients of Seattle-based Alpine Ascents International and two guides.

He said the group was supposed to have returned Friday, and park officials were notified when the climbing company didn’t hear from them, Park Ranger Fawn Bauer told the Associated Press. A helicopter search was launched Saturday.

Bauer told the Seattle Times on Saturday that the rescuers feel “there is no chance of survival at this point” for the climbers.

Mount Rainier, 55 miles southeast of Seattle, stands at 14,410 feet and attracts thousands of climbers trying to reach its summit every year.

“Mark was doing something that he absolutely loved to do, and there was no one who could’ve stopped him,” Rob Mahaney said.

The group had satellite and mobile phones. They were last heard from Wednesday evening when they reported they would camp overnight at an elevation of 12,800 feet, Bauer said.

Rob Mahaney said the group had planned to reach the summit Thursday and return Friday.

“Mark was a very energetic child,” Rob said. “He was one to be known to get into trouble no matter what. He learned to put all this energy he had and put it into something he loved to do, which is climbing mountains.”

He said Mark Mahaney is an experienced climber who has climbed Mount Rainier before and also has climbed Mount McKinley, North America’s highest mountain peak.

Mark Mahaney is a graduate of Prior Lake High School, Rob Mahaney said.